Christie’s New York sale of Post-War and Contemporary Art on Wednesday achieved $495 million (€386 million), the highest total in auction history. The auction house described the result as “staggering”.

Some of the paintings were sold by the estate of the singer Andy Williams, who died last year.

The sale established 16 new world auction records, selling nine works for more than $10 million, 23 for more than $5 million and 59 for more than $1 million. The top lot was
Number 19, 1948
, an abstract “drip painting” by the American artist Jackson Pollock, which made $58.3 million, well above its estimate of $25-$35 million and a new auction record for the artist.
Woman With Flowered Hat
(1963), by Roy Lichtenstein made $56.1 million and
Dustheads
(1982) by Jean-Michel Basquiat made $48.8 million, also a world record for the artist.

The only major casualty of the evening was a 1981 painting by Dublin-born artist Francis Bacon, Study For A Portrait’ [of George Dyer],
estimated at $18-$25 million, which failed to sell.

We reserve the right to remove any content at any time from this Community, including without limitation if it violates the Community Standards. We ask that you report content that you in good faith believe violates the above rules by clicking the Flag link next to the offending comment or by filling out this form. New comments are only accepted for 3 days from the date of publication.